Water bottle with multiple drink dosage device

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a water bottle with a self dosage compartment for adding drink mix and the like to water in the bottle consisting of a bottom compartment with a circular rotatable lid, a dose is kept in the compartment till user is ready to mix with water.

This application claims priority of US provisional application number 61/400,718 filed on Aug. 2, 2010 and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water bottle. In particular, the present invention relates to a water bottle with a flavor power dosage device located at the bottom for flavoring water in the bottle.

2. Description of Related Art

The use of flavor, energy, vitamins, medicine, or the like for the addition to bottle or other water has become increasingly popular. Easy to dissolve powdered additives are added to the water rather than a premixed drink purchased at the store such as a cola or other soda type drink. In many cases a powder is premeasured and added to a water bottle or purchased bottle of water.

Addition of a powder of some kind adds to the shelf life of virtually all products, but where a product is unstable in water, it is practically necessary. Many products degrade over some period of time in water to the point where they lose potency, taste, or the ability to do the job they were intended for. When adding a powder to a bottle of water, one either has to measure it out or carry a separate premeasured packet. If one is in the middle of an activity that can cause a delay or unwanted interruption in the activity.

Solid dosage preparations placed on the exterior recessed bottom of open-topped drinking cups or tumblers are known in the art. U.S. Patent Application 2004/0149598 to Scarla, for example, attaches a breath freshener to the bottom of a disposable cup, such as a STARBUCKS.™. coffee cup. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,798,339 to Soulis, a tablet, or a powder composition in a pouch is attached to the raised bottom of a paper cup. These containers, however, while temporarily filled for drinking, do not contain the liquid product, in the sense of put-up packaging. Even if they were to be transformed into a shelf package by means of filling and applying a sealing closure, they provide little physical and no safety protection for the solid dosage component, not to mention failing to provide self-stability for the liquid component.

Sealed-closure bottled liquid products, where an adjunct component is conveyed therewith, at or near the bottom, are also known. In U.S. Patent Application 2005/0284792 to Gopinathan, a multi-component migraine kit is stored in a separate container comprising a false bottom to a water bottle. In U.S. Patent Application 2004/0262173 to Buesching, a medication is provided in an end-cap which is press-fit to the posterior of a bottle containing a liquid, such as water. An additional container is required, however, in each of these cases. The additional container represents increased cost and assembly complication. Furthermore, the accompanying product is unprotected with regard to tampering. Still furthermore, the product, in its location underneath the bottle, is not always visible to the consumer of the product.

In US patent application 2010/0181275 to Gruenwald there is a solid dosage preparation with a bottle of water. The solid dosage preparation is contained within a cavity at the bottom of the bottle and held there by a heat sealed lidding. The device is tamper resistant and intended for single use.

The art is silent on the availability of a reusable water bottle for dosage of a dissolvable powder in to water within the bottle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present difficulties and problems with the present bottles and the like (including the availability of utilizing a reusable bottle and having a plurality of drink dosages in a single bottle) are achieved by the present invention. The present invention includes a bottom compartment with one or more sub-compartments (for one or more drink doses) wherein once the first dosage is utilized and the drink consumed, a second bolus of water can be added and the second compartment contents released to provide a second drink and so on depending on the number of sub-compartments.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a water bottle for containing water and a powder for dissolving in the water the bottle having an elongated body with an interior space and an exterior surface, a neck portion, a cap and a bottom portion of the interior space comprising:

-   -   a) a compartment for containing the powder fitted in the bottom         portion of the bottle interior space having one or more         sub-compartments within the compartment; and     -   b) a rotatable lid positioned on top of the compartment wherein         the lid is rotatable from the exterior surface of the bottle and         wherein there are openings in the lid positioned such that upon         rotating the lid the sub-compartments can be either sealed from         liquid communication from the rest of the interior space or can         be in fluid communication with the rest of the interior space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a detachable dosage compartment.

FIG. 2 is a view of a water bottle with a compartment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of an alternate embodiment of a water bottle with a single compartment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the compartment of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

As used herein the term “substantially” refers to ±10%.

As used herein the term “about refers to ±30%.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein the term “water bottle” refers to a container for containing water which has an elongated body with an interior space for placing the water. The water bottle will also have an exterior surface and a neck portion which can be narrower or not than the elongated body. The bottle will also have a cap portion covering a top opening where water can be added to the bottle and there will be a bottom portion of the interior space. In general water bottles, whether for cycling, exercising, just drinking water and the like, come primarily in polymeric versions made from materials that are safe to store both water and liquid drink mixes in. That is, the use of “food grade” material is useful. While metal food grade containers such as stainless can also be utilized when cost is an issue polymeric containers will be the embodiment normally utilized. Typically water bottles are utilized just for containing water and if a drink powder is to be used with the water bottle, a dosage of the drink powder is added through the top opening of the bottle.

The use of very inexpensive plastics are utilized in the construction of disposable water bottles that are thin and designed not to be reused, though most can for a small number of refills. On the other hand, reusable water bottles are made of thicker materials and designed to be washed and reused, for example, can be placed in the dishwasher for cleaning and sterilizing. Those skilled in the art of water bottles can select the most appropriate plastics and construction materials for constructing a water bottle of any kind.

The “compartment” of the present invention is an area large enough to contain a dosage of powder to flavor or dose water placed in the remainder of the compartment of the water bottle. The compartment occupies the bottom most portion of the water bottled wherein the space above the compartment is designed for the water. In general the top of the compartment will be substantially horizontal but other configurations could be determined from the disclosure and description herein.

The compartment of the present invention can contain one sub-compartment or two or more compartments. Each sub-compartment would contain enough powder to flavor or dose the water in the bottle. Where 2 or more sub-compartments are positioned therein, the number of drink doses equals the number of drinks capable of being made before the sub-compartments need refilling.

As used herein a “circumferentially rotatable lid” refers to positioning a lid at the top most part of the compartment to seal it from the water compartment of the bottle. The circumferential lid can rotate around a fixed point in either clockwise or counter clockwise direction. There are openings in the lid such that there is an open position and a closed position. The open position is where an opening is positioned over a sub-compartment with a dose inside or over an empty compartment or over a second planar lid such that opening(s) in the lid can be positioned over closed areas of the inner planer surface to seal a sub-compartment from water entry. One can clearly see examples of this in the Figures and other embodiments of this concept are clear from the description and drawings herein. In one embodiment the lid is circular and in another a scone planer surface can also rotate, and/or has openings, and/or is also circular. Clearly by lining up openings one can have access to the sub-compartments. In one embodiment the lid can be rotated circumferentially from outside the bottle. That is there is a means of rotating the lid from outside the bottle. For example, a sealed ring attached to the lid wherein the body of the bottle attaches to the compartment allows for such adjustment see for example FIG. 1. In other embodiments the compartment of any kind can be removed from the rest of the bottle for example by screwing it into the bottom of the bottle, such as shown in the figures.

In the practice of the present invention powder is placed in each of the one or more or two or more sub-compartments. Water is added to the bottle and the lid adjusted to position the holes over the dose and with shaking the dose is added to the water. Where there are 2 or more doses (sub-compartments) upon finishing the first drink more water is added to the bottle and the lid holes positioned over the second sub-compartment shook and the water drank. This can be repeated till there are no more sub-compartments with a dose inside.

Now referring to the drawings FIG. 1 depicts a removable compartment for containing dissolvable powder and attaching to the bottom of the elongated body of a water bottle in liquid communication thereof. The bottom compartment 1 of the present invention in this embodiment shows two sub compartments sub compartments 2 and 3. Positioned on top of compartment 1 is lid 5 with opening 6. In this embodiment the lid is circular and travels in a circumferential manner around center point 7. The lid 5 can be made to move by grabbing ring 10 or tab 11 and rotating clockwise or counterclockwise. This embodiment depicts two sub-compartments 3 and 4 and thus, has room for 2 doses of powder, one in each sub-compartment. By moving lid 5 such that the opening 6 is positioned over a sub-compartment liquid from an attached bottle comes in contact with the powder for dissolution in the liquid (water). In this view circular threads 12 can be used to attach the compartment to a bottle with an open bottom and matching circular threads. FIG. 2 depicts the compartment 1 of FIG. 1 attached to a bottle as the present invention bottle. Water bottle body 20 has open bottom 21 which has threads crewed into threads 12 of the bottom compartment 1. The bottle has elongated body 22, with water 24 being poured into the interior space 25 through open top 26. A water bottle cap (not shown) could be screwed onto the top of the water bottle.

FIG. 3 depicts and alternate embodiment of the present invention with one sub-compartment and a second planer surface beneath the lid. Water bottle 30 having neck 31, cap 32, and elongated body 33 is shown. Compartment 34 is positioned in the bottom of the water bottle 30 and in this embodiment is attached permanently to the bottle. Lid 35 with holes 36 is shown which circumferentially rotates just as in the other embodiment with ring 37. Shown is second planer surface 38 with holes 39. By circumferentially rotating lid 35 the holes can be positioned over one another or in a closed non-overlapping position. Since there is only one sub-compartment, only one

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of the embodiment in FIG. 3 showing the positioning of the lid.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant. 

1. A water bottle for containing water and a powder for dissolving in the water the bottle having an elongated body with an interior space and an exterior surface, a neck portion, a cap covering a bottle opening and a bottom portion of the interior space comprising: a) a compartment for containing the powder fitted in the bottom portion of the bottle interior space having one or more sub-compartments within the compartment; and b) a rotatable lid positioned on top of the compartment wherein the lid is rotatable from the exterior surface of the bottle and wherein there are openings in the lid positioned such that upon rotating the lid the sub-compartments can be either sealed from liquid communication from the rest of the interior space or can be in fluid communication with the rest of the interior space.
 2. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the compartment can be removed from the remainder of the water bottle.
 3. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the elongated body of the bottle is cylindrical and the lid is round.
 4. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein there are two or more sub-compartments.
 5. The water bottle according to claim 4 wherein all but one of the sub-compartments has powder in the sub-compartment.
 6. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the lid comprises two planer surfaces which can rotate relative to one another each having holes therein such that there is a closed position or an open position to one of the compartments.
 7. The water bottle according to claim 1 wherein the bottle contains water and powder in at least one of the sub-compartments. 